This One is for Ladies...It's Time to Give "The Girls" a Lift!!!

Hey, Ladies, have you gone for a professional bra fitting lately? Not only is a properly-fitting bra good for your "girls' health", it'll also help you look sooo much better in your clothes!!!

I would know! I recently went for a fitting myself and what I discovered seriously surprised me! Did you know that you could go into a European "department store" and find a 34G bra easily? It's really quite amazing that Americans have been conditioned to believe that a DD sized bra is super large. Guess what. It's not. It's actually the average size!!! A large-breasted woman should actually be wearing something MUCH larger.

And when I say that we should all go out and get professionally fitted (about every four to six months because (a) bras aren't made to last much longer than that and (b) weight and other factors can cause us to change size within that amount of time), I don't mean going to Vicky (Victoria) Secret. Wanna know what her secret is? She's a big fat liar! The fitters that work there (and at other similar stores with a limited range of sizes) are trained to "fit you into their bras". That's right! They will tell you that you are a size that they offer just so they can fit you into their bras! It's a travesty! So deceptive!!!

I had read reviews from other women who had tested the above-mentioned theory and I decided to try it out for myself. After getting professionally fitted and finding out my true size (which VS definitely does not offer), I went into one of their (VS) stores and asked one of their fitters to fit me. She fit me into the largest size they had to offer, which was about 10 sizes off. No friggin' kidding you! I couldn't believe the blatant lies that were spewing out of this woman's mouth! The sad part was that I think she may have actually believed what she was saying. I didn't want to make her feel stupid so I didn't say anything more than "thank you". But I so could have schooled her!

Ladies, listen up! Let me debunk some myths most of us have been taught by the women that came before us:

1) A properly-fitting bra can actually be comfortable!!! You don't have to want to rip your bra off as soon as you get home!
2) A looser band isn't more comfortable. It actually offers less support. Bra straps stretch! Sometimes as much as seven inches!!!
3) So, when in doubt, increase the cup size, not the band size!!!

I found an absolutely wonderful blog on Xanga that talks about "The Bra Matrix" and how to break out of it. Please, check it out and learn how a bra should fit/feel and other valuable information!!!

Eternal Voyageur is very passionate about this as well! She's done the research and knows what she's talking about!

Just click on this link, Ladies! And please, DO pass it on!

Let's help each other break out of the Bra Matrix!!!!

Skechers Shape-Ups? MDNYC Mom Would Like to Know if They're Worth the Purchase!!!

MDNYCMOM is interested in a new product: Skechers Women's Shape Ups - Strength Fitness Walking Sneaker! Watch the video below for an introduction to the product.

(As soon as I get these sneakers--and you know I will, very soon--I will give you all the full review!)

As Usual...
Happy Shopping, Everyone!!!

Shoe Dazzle: High-End, Personalized Shoes at only $39.99/pair!!!

Kim Kardashian considered the "little people" when thinking up her latest webstore concept. You know, the inner fashionista that would like to buy designer, high-end shoes but can't afford to pay the price of a month's rent to buy a pair? That's right-- the average woman!!! Kim found a way to offer the average woman designer shoes at the low-looow price of $39.99/pair!!!

Enter Shoe Dazzle: Your Personal Shoe Stylist.

At ShoeDazzle.com, you receive:

1. "Personal recommendations from shoe stylists.
2. Membership INCLUDES one pair of shoes per month.
3. You pay only after you select your first pair.
4. Free Shipping (within the contiguous United States)."

Here's How it Works:
"ShoeDazzle is a monthly membership society. Every month, for just $39, you will receive an extraordinary pair of shoes. The shoes are handpicked for you by our fashion experts. There is no obligation to purchase shoes once you register, and you are charged only after you choose your first pair of shoes. In any month, you may choose to "Skip This Month" in your account section."
All you have to do is:

• "Take our Fashion Survey:
  It only takes a few minutes for us to get to know your style.
• Our stylists pick 5 shoes for you:
  Based on your survey results, our fashion experts provide you with a choice of 5 fashionable shoes each month, from which you choose one. If you do not like your choices, you can select "Skip this Month" and you won't be charged for that month.
• Choose the pair you want:
  We provide free shipping. If you are unsatisfied with your shoes, simply return them to us using the pre-printed return shipping label provided with your order."
• (Check out the FAQs if you have any further questions.)

How great is that, Fashionistas-in-the-Making???!!!

My sister, Single Mom with Acting Goals, has signed up for Shoe Dazzle and she's going to be at the ready to review their quality of service and products as soon as she gets a good feel for the company. So, keep an eye out for that upcoming post!

And as always...

Happy Shopping, Ladies!!!

Part III: Nicole by O.P.I.'s Nic Sticks work JUST as well as Sally Hansen's Color Quick Fast Dry Nail Color Pens!!!

Once I, Modern Day NYC Mom, try out one type of beauty product, I feel the need to try out similar ones for comparison purposes. If you've been following along with my previous review posts, you've seen that I've already tried the Color Quick Fast Dry Nail Color Pen by Sally Hansen (Part I) and to go along with that, I've also tried the Nail Art Pen by Sally Hansen (Part II) as well. Both are absolutely wonderfully portable and easy to use. They're unfortunately a little pricey. Also, the selection of colors for the Color Quick Fast Dry Nail Color Pen is pretty limited. Good thing there are Nicole by O.P.I. Nic's Sticks.

Personally, I find Nicole by O.P.I. Nic's Sticks just as easy to use as the Color Quick Fast Dry Nail Color Pens. The same pros and cons pretty much apply to both, except for a few exceptions, which I will discuss now.

Pro and Con Comparison of Nicole by OPI Nic's Sticks and
Color Quick Fast Dry Nail Color Pen by Sally Hansen

Pros:

• O.P.I.'s product has many different color options (twenty-four vs. Sally Hansen's eight standard colors).
• Nicole by O.P.I. offers very cute and creative names, (such as the color I bought, Date Night, which is a very pretty, shimmery red color, pictured to your left). (Sally Hansen's color names are pretty basic, such as the Sheer Pink.)
• Nic's Sticks' standard price of $7.00 is cheaper than Sally Hansen's standard price of about $8.00 ($8.29 in NYC).
• If you're using these products to save time, Nic's Sticks require only one twist to open their caps, whereas Sally Hansen requires about three (and they're both equally as secure)!!!
  

Cons:

• Nicole by O.P.I. does not make any version of the Nail Art Pen that I reviewed yesterday. (That's technically a review for the company, not the product.)

So, in conclusion, I believe that Nicole by O.P.I.'s Nic's Sticks are a better buy than Color Quick Fast Dry Nail Color Pen by Sally Hansen. They do the exact same thing at a slightly more affordable price! If the Color Quick Fast Dry Nail Color Pen by Sally Hansen is ever on sale though and you're wondering which product to buy, just go for the more affordable one. They're the exact same product!!!

And again, I wish you 'Happy Shopping, Ladies!!!'

Part II: (IF You're As BAD at Doing Your OWN Nails As I AM,) When Using SH's Nail Art Pen, ALWAYS Have Nail Polish Remover (and Q-tips) on Hand!!!

I was so excited to find theColor Quick Fast Dry Nail Color Pen by Sally Hansen yesterday, that I rushed out today to buy the Nail Art Pen by the same company. As for ease of use? It is most definitely easier to use than thin nail polish brushes. Being that it's purpose is much more precise than the Color Quick Fast Dry Nail Color Pen, my review will be based on that fact.

As I mentioned yesterday, I've always been very bad at polishing my own nails. While the Color Quick Fast Dry Nail Color Pen is definitely the answer to my basic nail polishing needs, the Nail Art Pen is a bit more difficult for me to use. The design is just fine. Implementing it just takes more time and patience.

The pen itself is designed like a marker and works like one as well. The solution it contains is water- based, so it won't stick to your nail on it's own (a base and top coat is required). If you wish to use it just to place a design on your nails, you can always just use a clear base/top coat. The fact that it's water-based makes it easy to remove (and it's also environmentally safe)!!!

Unfortunately, water-based "paints" take longer to try. So, no drying an entire job in under ten minutes like with the Color Quick Fast Dry Nail Color Pen.
(Warning: If you don't have nail polish remover (or water and soap) handy and you get the solution on your skin, it will initially stick. It behaves much like Correction Fluid in this way. [Being that I don't have the most steady hands in the world, I have a tendency of doing this, thus requiring me to have nail polish remover on hand, which I consider a bit of a con.])

As for the price? Ease of use is usually worth it. But at $8 per 2ml (compared to the average nail polish bottle size of 10ml), is it really worth it? That depends on how much you want to be able to design your own nails. Personally? I don't think I'll be buying any other color [I bought the basic white] anytime soon, unless the price were to dramatically drop. (I think I'll try the Nail Art Decals next.)

I covered what most matters to me about the pen (and what I, in turn, thought would be most important to my readers). If you'd like to learn even more about the product (from a teenager who seemingly has a lot more time and spendable cash than this new Mom [me]), check out JackieAm's (quite extensive) review below:

As always, Happy Shopping, Ladies!!!

Part I: Ladies, Listen Up! Polishing Your Own Nails is No Longer The Impossible Dream!!!

I have always been very bad at polishing my nails. I mean, I've tried all of my life to perfect the polish. But no matter what I've tried (taking my time, trying to keep the coats light or stick to light colors, etc.), nothing has worked. I figured I had no choice but to either have someone else do my nails for the rest of my life (which can get pricey) or just leave them undone (which is the easiest option for the Mom on the run). That was until today.

I recently noticed an ad for a nail polish pen on the side of a city bus. I thought, "How novel. Being able to hold the nail polish applicator and nail polish in one hand should make things much easier! I think I'll give that a try."

So, today during my lunch break, I walked into Duane Reade with a question and walked out with the answer. Sitting at my desk at work (something I could have never done with an old-fashioned nail polish applicator and bottle), I was able to polish the nails on both my hands and feet in under 10 minutes!!! And here's the best part: all of my nails were dry within 11 minutes. You couldn't ask for something better than that!!!

Have I peaked your interest? Would you like to know the name of this little gem? It's the Color Quick Fast Dry Nail Color Pen by Sally Hansen. (Sally Hansen often delivers great beauty products at some pretty good prices.)

The Color Quick Fast Dry Nail Color Pen isn't the cheapest nail polish on the block at nearly $10 a pen, but it is definitely not the most expensive either. (It's pretty moderate.) The question is, how much are you willing to spend to help make beautifying yourself just a bit easier?

If we, as women, are willing to go to a nail salon and pay $15 (or more) a session to get our nails professionally (buffed and) polished each week, how much more cost-effective would doing our own nails be!!! (For information on being cost-effective by budgeting, check out my husband's article: To Budget Or Not to Budget.) It would also save us time traveling, what with not having to leave our home to do it ourselves. (In case you're wondering about putting your own designs on your nails, Sally Hansen offers Nail Art Pens as well. Once I try one, I'll let you know whether or not it's as easy to use.) It just makes sense! (Nicole by O.P.I. also offers similar pens: Nicole by OPI Nic's Sticks (pictured here). I am going to give them a try next and let you know whether or not they work just as well!!!)

After years of bad experiences, my search for the perfect do-it-yourself nail polish is over! No need to take my word (or the picture of my perfectly polished nails) for it though. Why not try it for yourself?

(FYI, this is not a paid review. I just found another product I'm passionate about and I wanted to share it with you all. Remember, my goal is to make my readers' lives easier! Luv you all!!!)